Tube pack bag making

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for forming and filling tubes containing a product, with the filling process taking place from the longer side of the tube, rather than the shorter side. An elongated product delivery tube contains product diverters that evenly spread out the product, allowing a clean seal in less time. An optional vibrator helps the product to settle quickly. Throughput is increased over the prior art, as well as facilitating improvements in opening the tube and in marketing.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A former/product delivery tube for a vertical form, fill, and seal machine, comprising: 
       a product delivery tube having first and second sides opposite each other, said first and second sides being substantially parallel, first and second rounded ends that join said first and second sides together, and product diverters attached to an inside surface of said product delivery tube;  
       a former, connected to said product delivery tube in such a manner that a packaging film can be routed over said former to be positioned around said product delivery tube;  
       wherein said former/product delivery tube is configured for removable attachment to a vertical form, fill, and seal machine configured to make and fill flexible packages.  
     
     
       2. The product delivery tube of  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second rounded ends are each semi-circular. 
     
     
       3. The product delivery tube of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibrator connected to said product delivery tube to vibrate product as it is dropped into a package. 
     
     
       4. A vertical form, fill, and seal machine, comprising: 
       a former, configured to receive a packaging film from a roll; a product delivery tube whose cross-section has first and second sides opposite each other, said first and second sides being substantially parallel; and first and second rounded ends that join said first and second sides together and product diverters attached to an inside surface of said product delivery tube, wherein said former is configured to guide the packaging film such that the packaging film is wrapped around said product delivery tube;  
       a first set of sealers, adjacent said product delivery tube, to seal the packaging film to itself such that the packaging film forms an elongated tube; and  
       a second set of sealers, arranged below said product delivery tube to make a transverse seal across the elongated tube.  
     
     
       5. The vertical form, fill, and seal machine of  claim 4 , wherein said first and said second rounded ends are each semi-circular. 
     
     
       6. The improvement vertical form, fill, and seal machine of  claim 4 , further comprising a vibrator connected to said product delivery tube to vibrate product as it is dropped into a package.